Why is it called a "badger?": Do they really badger other animals? People? No, in fact it is just the opposite. The current definition of the verb "badger," which means to "pester" someone, derives from the practice of an early European sport of baiting badgers. The badger reportedly gets its name from its distinctive facial markings. While most of us think of a "badge" as being something a policeman wears, another definition of "badge" is "any characteristic mark" and the badger is readily identified by its striped facial markings (Whitaker 1980 ).
Where are they located? How many subspecies are there?: The badger's range extends from southern portions of Canada down into Mexico and west from Washington, Oregon and California (excluding most coastal areas) east to Texas, Oklahoma, MIssouri, Illinois, Indiana and Ohio (Lindzey 1982) . There are four subspecies of badger: T.t taxus, T.t. jacksoni, and T.t. berlandieri. T.t. jeffersonii is found in the Pacific Northwest.
Where do they live?: Open and usually dry country such as plains, farmland, prairies, parklands. Also sometimes found near the edge of woodlands (Nowak, 1991; Whitaker 1980).
What do they look like?: Badgers have a flattened body, with short legs and a short tail. The front claws are long and the hind claws are short. The fur is gray to brown in color with a white stripe extending from the shoulder to the tips of its nose. The southern badger, T.t. berlandieri has the white stripe extending from the tip of its nose to its rump (Hall 1981 ).
How big are they?: The total length of males is between 25 and 36 inches and females between 21 and 34 inches (Hall 1981 ). The average weight of males is between 18 and 19 pounds; females between 14 and 16 pounds. Some large males can exceed 25 pounds (Lindzey 1982 ).
How long do they live?: Uncertain. The oldest wild badger recorded was aged 14 years. The oldest in captivity was aged 26 years (Nowak 1991 ).
What do they eat?: Mostly burrowing rodents such as ground squirrels and mice, but also rabbits, skunks, birds, reptiles and insects. The actual species preyed upon depends on the region and season (Lindzey 1982 )
Interesting notes:: Badgers are good diggers and, if threatened, can dig a hole and disappear to safety in as little as one minute. It often finds its food by digging small holes, smelling for the presence of a burrowing animal, and eventually excavating down to get its prey (Neal 1986 ). This works particularly well for the badger in the winter, when hibernating prey sit in their burrows like stored food in a refrigerator (Lindzey 1982 ).

Badgers are nocturnal, solitary animals and spend most of the daytime asleep underground. They do not hibernate, but if conditions become very cold they will remain in their dens for extended periods. Two to twelve days underground during cold months are common (Lindzey 1982 ). One female badger was observed to emerge from her burrow only once in a 72-day period. During such an extended period the badger's body temperature and heart rate will slow down, allowing the badger to survive solely on its stored fat (Neal 1986 ).; The badger can be a formidable foe. With its thick fur and tough hide it does not become easy prey for its sometimes persecutors: bears, coyotes, and cougars (Lindzey 1982 ). Although badgers are known to fight amongst themselves, they usually avoid each other and honor the territories of other badgers. While it isn't known exactly how they communicate such boundaries, scent marking is thought to play a role. Being mustilids, badgers have scent glands similar to a skunk's and they will discharge (but not spray) a musklike odor when attacked (Lindzey 1982 ; Whitaker 1980 ).